Install Nordic nRF Connect for VS Code

Context, Please

Nordic is a company that makes embedded Microcontrollers. nRF Connect is their development platform which you can install on the text editor VSCode. This post shows how to do that part.

Assumptions

I am assuming you have worked with VSCode before and know about VSCode extensions.

1. Installation

• Install nRF Command line tools
  
  
  
  
  • May be asked to install segger jlink driver - check yes to that
  
  
  
  
  
  



• Install nRF Connect SDK
  
  
  
  
  • This is now done through the VS Code extension
  
  
  
  
  
  



• Install SDK
  
  
  
  
  • Under the VS Code extension you just installed
  
  
  • Click Manage SDKs -> install SD
  
  
  • tag release to install - keep in simple
  
  
  
  
  
  



• Enable for workspace only
  
  
  
  
  • extensions icon on sidebar -> gear icon on nrfConnect for VS Code Extension Pack
  
  
  • Disable -> Enable (workspace)
  
  
  
  
  
  

2. Creating an application

• Open nRF connect extension. Here are your options
  
  
  
  
  • Manage toolchains - install new toolchains or revert to old toolchains
  
  
  • Manage SDKs - install new SDK or revert to old SDK
  
  
  • Open an existing application
  
  
  • Create a new application
  
  
  • Create a new board
  
  
  • Browse samples
  
  
  
  
  
  



• Will "create a new application" for this
  
  
  
  
  • Options
  
  
  • Create a blank application
  
  
  • Copy a sample
  
  
  • Browse application index
  
  
  • Select "copy a sample"
  
  
  • Can sort by the module (to the right of "Create New App from sample")
  
  
  • Can filter by boards compatible with the sample
  
  
  • Search for the name
  
  
  • Will be copying blinky for this
  
  
  • Enter the directory where you want to create the project
  
  
  
  
  
  

3. Building an Application

• Create a build configuration
  
  
  
  
  • Tells the compiler which board files to include in your build
  
  
  • This making the output compatible with your board
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Can also save the build configuration